Between 1789 and 1804, Caen experienced fifteen years of profound upheaval. Beyond the major dates of the French Revolution, an entire city was changing its face: its squares became places of debate and tension, its religious buildings were transformed or repurposed, and its inhabitants had to contend with a world in the midst of upheaval.

This guided tour invites you to rediscover Caen at street level and through its people, following in the footsteps of those who lived through these turbulent years. From Place Saint-Sauveur, the scene of gatherings and revolts, to the former religious buildings upheaved by the Revolution, and the major transformations of the urban landscape, you will gain an understanding of how the city adapted, became divided, and was sometimes torn apart.

We will also discuss prominent figures such as Charlotte Corday, who was born in this vibrant Normandy, as well as the major political events that shaped life in Caen. Amid hope, tensions and upheavals, this tour invites you to see Caen in a different light: not as a city frozen in time, but as a living space, profoundly marked by the Revolution.

Starting point: Town Hall Square (formerly the Abbaye aux Hommes)
Arrival point: Caen Castle